Dimapur, January 31 (MExN): Various factions of the NSCN observed its 43rd Raising Day at their respective council headquarters on January 31.
NSCN (IM): In a message issued through the NSCN (IM) MIP, Chairperson Q Tuccu reminded that the Naga political movement was never a smooth sailing one and that the Naga people’s historical and political rights are cleared before the world.
“For the legitimate rights we protected, NSCN was successful in getting Nagalim admitted into UNPO (Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization) as a bona fide member. Today, many international organizations are solidly behind UNPO to support NSCN,” he said.
Tuccu said today the Nagas are placed in a situation which demands resolve to stand strong and committed. “We are being tested again by the Government of India using her mighty Army to apply outrageous violence empowered under the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA), against innocent Naga civilians,” he said, referring to the Oting killings in December 2021. Terming it as “one of the most painful incidents in the history of the Naga political struggle,” he said “We are with the Oting and Konyak people and together we shall fight for justice.”
Further, Tuccu said that, 24 years ago, the Government of India officially signed the Second Indo-Naga Ceasefire with NSCN, “the only legitimate political organization leading the Naga political movement,” and that the Indo-Naga political dialogue that followed is still going on. “We have achieved much and it was God who guided us all the way to sign the much hyped historic Framework Agreement on August 3, 2015 with the Government of India directly supervised by the Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi,” he added.
“The political significance of the Framework Agreement (FA) lies in the fact that the Government of India and NSCN have entered into an agreement to establish a new relationship for peaceful co-existence of the two entities on the basis of shared sovereignty. This is the only key to an honourable and acceptable solution for a durable peace,” Tuccu’s statement read. He also said that the NSCN was totally against economic packages or imposed political packages as these are far from giving the Nagas the lasting solution while reiterating the stand that the Nagas will abide by the principles of the Framework Agreement.
“There is no other way and we shall remain guarded to stand firm with the Framework Agreement,” he asserted. Calling on the Naga people to follow the footprints of the leaders who were behind the formation of the NSCN, Tuccu stressed that the Naga’s political destiny was in the hands of NSCN.
GPRN/NSCN: According to a press release from the GPRN/NSCN MIP, at the Council Headquarters, Naga Unification Camp, Khehoyi, the programme began with the unfurling of the Naga national flag by Gen (Retd) Neokpao Konyak, President and Chairperson of GPRN/NSCN followed with Guard of Honour by Naga Army, GPRN/NSCN. This was followed by obituary reference wherein a moment of silent prayer was observed in honour of the martyrs who had zealously fought and sacrificed for the aspiration of Naga people, the release stated.
Gen (Retd) MB Neokpao Konyak, gracing the occasion as special guest, extended greetings and paid respect and homage upon the fallen Naga patriots, while reminiscing on the background and how the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN) was formed in 1980 with the sole purpose of establishing a sovereign Naga nation, it said. Sharing his optimism that the blessing and guidance of the Almighty God would prevail upon the Naga people’s aspiration and that the sacrifices and blood of the valiant Naga soldiers would not go in vain, he urged upon the gathering to stand strong and be determined.
A moment of gratitude and token of honour to senior national workers was conducted by Inaka Tsuqu, Chief Secretary, GPRN and a spiritual message and prayer for GPRN/NSCN members was also shared and heard from Hevukhu Yepthomi, ACL, the release stated. The programme concluded with a benediction from Avika Zhimo, Asst Pastor, CHQ Church.
Yung Aung-led NSCN (K): On the occasion, the Yung Aung-led NSCN (K) issued a statement stating that it was time for the international community “to take moral and humanitarian responsibility to end the decades-long occupation and allow the Naga people to determine their own future as enshrined in the International law.”
Paying tribute to the NSCN’s founding fathers, great leaders, national workers and brave Naga patriots who sacrificed their lives for the national cause, the Yung Aung-led NSCN (K) stated that it would rededicated and re-pledge “the national oath to honour our moral and political responsibility towards our people on both sides of the imposed boundary and we will continue to stand firm on our commitment.”
It asserted that while both India and Myanmar “are completely convinced they can succeed to subdue the Nagas by force and keep denying our freedom, but Nagas will never yield to their deception.”
It also made mention of the ‘indiscriminate killings’ of innocent Naga people in Mon district on December 4, 2021, and said that “This appalling and unchecked human rights violation in the Naga country is an attack on the International Human Rights movement and challenged the core principles of the United Nation,” calling on the international community to take moral and humanitarian responsibility to end the decades-long occupation and allow the Naga people to determine their own future.
Further stating that the “India lacked the political will to solved the Naga issue,” it said that India's successive governments failed to live up to its commitment. It also claimed that the “Naga pro-talk political groups are also trapped in their own clamour and disunity and has lost the skill of manoeuvring the Indian bureaucrats.” It went on to say that the groups “have lost their political wisdom the day they give up on sovereignty in exchange for the so-called Naga solution,” and that their “deep conflicting personal and political interests” have made the Naga issue more complicated and confusing to the people.
Nevertheless, it said, despite these harsh realities, “most Nagas, irrespective of tribes and artificial borders, still have high hope on our common future — a future free from domination and assimilation. Our occupiers too know that Nagas has all the ingredients to be a free nation, yet if Nagas fail in our joint commitment today then tomorrow we will remain in a quandary waiting to be obliterated forever.” Further, it said that the older Naga leaders and generations have passed on having given their best for the nation, and as such, it was on the newer generation to take up the responsibility of shouldering the national burden.
